Lateral entrant examination

Explanation

Children and adolescents who come to Germany from other countries are referred to as lateral entrants. Regarding their compulsory education, the following distinctions are made:

Children and adolescents
a) from EU member states (EU internal migration)
b) from non-EU member states
In both cases, compulsory education begins with taking up residence in NRW.

Children and adolescents
a) of asylum seekers or
b) who have independently filed an asylum application (so-called unaccompanied minors)
In these two cases, compulsory education begins with their assignment to a municipality and continues as long as their stay is permitted.

According to the decree dated May 16, 2013, from the Ministry of Health, Emancipation, Care, and Age of the State of NRW, the school medical examination of "lateral entrant" children and adolescents is to be conducted by the responsible health department. The decree is based on the NRW School Law, which stipulates that students are required to undergo school medical examinations as part of routine check-ups.

The newly registered children and adolescents in the municipalities are reported to the child and youth medical service. Appointments are scheduled promptly and arranged by the responsible assistants. The examination generally takes place at the health department but can also be conducted in schools or municipalities in exceptional cases.

The lateral entrant examination serves to assess the health of children and adolescents and to determine the need for specialist medical clarification.

What should I bring?

Please bring the medical record, documentation of the TBC examination, and proof of vaccination status to the lateral entrant examination, if available.
If you have medical reports, e.g., about chronic illnesses of the child or adolescent, please also bring these to the examination.

Examination procedure

The lateral entrant examination is divided into two parts.
The first part is conducted by a medical assistant. They perform a vision and hearing test with the child or adolescent, and document height and weight. At the same time, vaccination data is collected.
Information about the home country, native language, the duration of the stay in Germany so far, language skills, and whether and how long school was attended in the country of origin is also recorded.

The second part is conducted by the school doctor. They physically examine the children and adolescents and determine whether specialist medical clarification is necessary.

The school medical report also includes indications of increased educational support needs beyond the lack of language skills.

The following developmental abnormalities may indicate increased support needs:

1. Delays/disorders in language development
2. Delays in learning development
3. Delays in fine and gross motor development
4. Behavioral abnormalities (motivation/restlessness/anxiety/concentration)

You, as parents, and the school receive a report with the results of the lateral entrant examination. In the case of unusual findings that require further medical clarification, we offer you advice on possible measures.